Singing his praises

Ashburton-born opera singer Simon O’Neill, 37, has been named in a list of the world’s top 10 tenors by an influential London radio station. Rankings in the July issue of Classic FM magazine position him second behind superstar Placido Domingo, in a list that also includes the likes of Juan Diego Florez, Jonas Kaufman and Ian Bostridge. O’Neill next performs as Florestan in Fidelio at the Teatro de la Maestranza, Sevilla Spain on 29 July, and in the same role on 12 and 15 August at the Salzburg Festival with the West Divian Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim.